POLICE have set up a special unit to investigate deaths in custody, and it will start operations from January 1 next year, Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin said.

The unit will be placed under the Department of Integrity and Standards Compliance and headed by an officer with the rank of superintendent.

“As we receive all sorts of complaints about deaths in custody and in lockups, we will create another criminal investigation unit for deaths in custody.

“This will be done as soon as possible and will be led by an officer with the rank of superintendent, 12 officers and a civil servant… (it) will start operating on January 1,” Hamzah said after the 100th Day Malaysian Family Aspirations ceremony in Kuala Lumpur today.

Hamzah said this new unit in Bukit Aman will investigate all death cases in police custody and not incidents from other units.

“The establishment of this unit shows that we are concerned with what the people have to say, as well as with improving the integrity and image of the police force.

“The unit’s investigations will focus on criminal elements and identify subjects, negligence of officers, compliance with standard operating procedure (SOP) and instructions issued,” he said.

Hamzah, said a total of 82 deaths in lock-ups were recorded from 2015 to November 30 this year.

Of the total, he said, 42 of them were Malays, 13 Chinese, 15 Indians and 12 foreigners.

“This number shows that deaths in custody have nothing to do with racism but stem from unavoidable issues, including those with illnesses,” he said.

In addition to deaths in lock-ups, 94 deaths in custody were recorded during the same period.

Hamzah also said the Home Ministry and the Finance Ministry were discussing measures to appoint a panel doctor to conduct health screening on detainees before they are put in a lock-up.

“The current SOP is to wait for the doctor to be sent by the Health Ministry, which usually takes time.

“So, with a panel doctor, once arrested, the offender can be taken to the doctor for health screening before being put in the lockup. Only then will we know the detainee’s health status,” he said. – December 6, 2021.